airbrushing the tricolor scheme

I freehanded my 48th scale TBF avenger with a badger 200 medium using rough shapes cut out of post it notes as a basic mask to minimize overspray as a hard mask would not look right.
It worked ok and have since bought a 150 with a fine head.
What model is your badger?
I suggest buying a fine head and needle assembly for it if you do not already have one.
as far as the airbrakes are concerned ,I think red on the inside only.

You probably already know this anyway, but make sure you start light to dark, easier to cover and take your time. For me it was easier/better to take a pencil and mark off a line about a 1/4" from where the transitions occured as a reference, hard masks work well too but have them in place before you paint...

Soft masks would help ya. Roll up tape or snake blue tac under either plain paper
or note cards cut to shape.

That's if your afraid of free hand (like me :0)) and rossjr is right - go light to dark

In general air brakes are only painted red on the inside as seen from approaching the AC from the aft - no beaning the brain bucket that way[:0]

interesting, in reading one of the squadron books, it actually said the red brakes were not seen in Midway or the Pacific theatre. It suggested it was something that was added later, in post war years. I am wondering who is right.

QUOTE: Originally posted by nsclcctl interesting, in reading one of the squadron books, it actually said the red brakes were not seen in Midway or the Pacific theatre. It suggested it was something that was added later, in post war years. I am wondering who is right.

Can't speak to when the use of red inside the dive brakes actually started to be used, but the general rule for red and USN a/c is that if it is someplace that can draw blood (gear door edges, inside edge of flaps/slats, etc) it is painted red.

In detail and scale shows it in use in the pacific.

I did a tri-color scheme on an A-10 b4 it was my first attempt...and what i did was spray the whole thing the lighter color of the 3 colors you have choosen..then take a pencil and draw the shapes on some wide masking tape and cut the shapes out..this way you will get nice curves and stuff.....after the first coat dries for about 24-48 hrs....add the tape and make sure all the edges are down..then add the second medium color.....do the same proccess...making sure that you dont get too crazy masking off the shapes...just look at some reference pics for ideas..then all you have to do now is add the last coat. Once thats added let it dry for 2 days or however long you feel comfortable with...your model should look funny looking with alot of masking tape covering it and will look one color of course...now try to remove the masking tape in reverse order..in which you put it on so you dont peel the paint....but if you want to save time just take it off all at once

when your finished add the decals and spray it down with a few coats of future..followed by some dullcoat and youll have a good lookin tri-scheme job